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UM submits report to government in response to Commission of Audit’s report

Following the instruction of Secretary for Social Affairs and Culture Tam Chon Weng, the University of Macau today (26 Feb) submitted a report to the government in response to the Commission of Audit’s report released earlier. UM notes in the report that the university’s management has carefully studied the Commission of Audit’s report and has carried out a careful review of the relevant issues. UM notes that the comments and suggestions in the Commission of Audit’s report are valuable and are worth studying and implementing. UM will take active measures for improvement purposes in order to eliminate any potential risks. With respect to the staff housing policy, UM notes that the current staff housing policy is in alignment with UM’s educational aims and objectives. Nonetheless, following the Commission of Audit’s report, UM has carried out numerous discussions and a careful review of the policy, and will review the staff housing allocation criteria. Regarding the research institute in Zhuhai, UM notes that the motive for establishing the research institute in Zhuhai is to improve UM’s competitiveness and to make contributions to the scientific and technological progress in mainland China. UM will follow the Commission of Audit’s suggestions and propose to the SAR Government to study the possibility of changing the way the research institute is currently registered and managed, through a Guangdong-Macao collaboration mechanism. Regarding the University of Macau Development Foundation (UMDF), UM says that it welcomes the Commission of Audit’s suggestions and plans to carry out discussions with various parties concerned, under the guidance of the Government and the University Council (UC), and will carefully study the suggestions in the Commission of Audit’s report and carry out a comprehensive review of the current Charter and legal structure of the UMDF so as to eliminate any potential risks.

 

Review staff housing allocation criteria

Many universities around the world with a good international standing provide staff housing on their campuses, not only as an incentive to attract and retain outstanding faculty and staff, but also as an instrument for encouraging teacher-student interaction. UM’s current staff housing policy is in alignment with UM’s educational aims and objectives. Moreover, the process of establishing the policy has been a meticulous one. At the time the relevant rules and regulations were being drafted, numerous university-wide consultations and surveys involving all UM staff members were conducted. Those rules and regulations were finally passed at the UC’s plenary meeting.

Following the Commission of Audit’s report, UM’s management held numerous discussions and carried out a careful review of the issue. UM will examine the staff housing allocation criteria, particularly with respect to the priority given to those who already own a property in Macao. UM will actively communicate and liaise with the Commission of Audit and will try its best to put forward a suggestion for improving the staff housing policy within the shortest time possible.

 

Hope to change the way the research institute is registered and managed through a Guangdong-Macao collaboration mechanism

The purpose of establishing the research institute in Zhuhai is to strengthen UM’s collaboration with academic institutions and government agencies in mainland China, thereby enhancing the research capacity and competitiveness of UM’s academic staff, increasing UM’s visibility, and making contributions to the scientific and technological progress in mainland China. Because of policy-wise and legal reasons, UM was unable to directly establish a non-profit research institute in Zhuhai. Therefore, UM adopted legal opinions from mainland China and established the research institute as a private non-enterprise entity.

On 18 March 2014, UM established a special board of overseers as well as guidelines on the operation of the research institute for better supervision and oversight over the operation and financial condition of the institute. To further strengthen supervision and control over the research institute, UM on 1 December 2014 signed an agreement with the Institute to legally guarantee that UM has the sole and complete ownership of all the research projects conducted by the research institute, along with any intellectual property rights, including patents, that result from such research projects. The agreement also stipulates that UM has the decision-making power over the management of the institute, particularly regarding its day-to-day operations. This means that UM has considerable decision-making power in the institute’s policy making and day-to-day operation.

 

UM will carefully study the issues and suggestions raised in the Commission of Audit’s report and take active measures for improvement purposes so as to eliminate any potential risks. UM will also propose to the government to study the possibility of changing the way the research institute is currently registered and managed through a Guangdong-Macao collaboration mechanism. If this proves impossible, UM will consider terminating and closing the research institute.

 

Discuss with various parties concerned and review the current Charter and legal structure of the UMDF

The UC began preparing for the establishment of the UMDF in 2006, and the proposal was passed at the UC’s plenary meeting. The purpose of establishing the UMDF is to support and facilitate the realisation of UM’s academic and educational objectives and enhance UM’s competitiveness both locally and internationally.

The UMDF was founded by Stanley Ho, Tse Chi Wai, Wong Chong Fat, and Lam Kam Seng. Upon its founding, a Trustees Committee, an Executive Committee, and a Fiscal Committee were established to manage the UMDF, with members comprised of UMDF sponsors, UM’s UC members, UM’s UA members, UM’s rector, and one vice rector of UM. The 28 May 2010 and 30 May 2010 editions of Macao Daily News ran articles which provided detailed information about the UMDF, including how and for what purposes the UMDF was established, and who were the founders.

It was stipulated in the “Aims” and “Activities” sections of the UMDF Charter that all the activities of the UMDF must be for the purpose of promoting and supporting UM’s development. In case the UMDF is found to pursue aims or is engaged in activities that are in violation of the UMDF Charter, the procuratorate or any stakeholder can apply to the court for a termination of the UMDF. According to Article 8 of the UMDF Charter, in case of a termination of the UMDF, its assets shall automatically belong to UM.

Although members of the various organs of the UMDF serve the UMDF in their individual capacities, the majority of them are UC or UA members. All individuals who assist with the UMDF’s affairs do so on a voluntary basis, without ever receiving any remunerations or fees whatsoever. To be responsible to the public, especially to the donors, the UMDF sends its financial report to members of the various organs and its donors on a regular basis.

The activities the UMDF has been engaged in since its establishment have been in complete compliance with its aims stated in the UMDF Charter. As at the end of 2014, the UMDF had received donations in excess of MOP 881 million. The UMDF carries out investment with these donations according to the guidelines and objectives defined by the Trustees Committee. The UMDF’s total asset now is approximately MOP 954 million, a net increase of 8 per cent.  

UM welcomes the Commission of Audit’s suggestions. It plans to carry out discussions with the various parties concerned, under the guidance of the government and the UC. It will carefully study the suggestions in the Commission of Audit’s report and carry out a comprehensive review of the current Charter and legal structure of the UMDF, so as to make sure that all activities of the UMDF and the donations it receives are under the strict supervision of the government and UM, thereby eliminating any potential risks. 



Source: Communications Office

 

Media Contact Information:

Communications Office, University of Macau

Albee Lei  Tel:(853) 88228004

Kristy Fok  Tel:(853) 88228006

Email:prs.media@um.edu.mo

UM Website:www.umac.mo


26/02/2015